Diagnosis for pathological anxiety
Diagnosing pathological anxiety will involve various methods and assessments, this is because the condition can manifest in various ways and can be caused by several factors such as an illness. Firstly, your doctor will conduct a physical exam and a review of your medical history. This will help rule out other medical disorders that could have also caused some of the symptoms.
Your doctor may then order different laboratory tests such as:
- Blood cell count
- Urinalysis
- Blood biochemistry profile
- Urine drug screen
- Thyroid function test
The result of your tests will determine the next step. Further evaluation may be recommended. This will include:
- CT scans
- Electroencephalography [3]
- Chest radiography
- Tests for infection
- Electrocardiography [4]
- Arterial blood gas analysis
Specialized mental health tests may also be done. This will include self-assessment questionnaires, interviews with a therapist, and different clinical scales like Severity Measure for Panic Disorder and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 [5].